Influence of Agricultural Education Programme in Revamping Young Farmers Club for Food Security in Rivers State

Abstract

This study focused on the Influence of Agricultural Education Programme in Revamping Young Farmers Club for Food Security in Rivers State. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of this study comprised eleven (11) and thirteen (13) Agricultural Educators in Rivers State University and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education respectively. Due to the fact that the population was manageable, the entire population was adopted for this study, hence, there was no sampling technique adopted for this study. The instrument used in collecting data was a survey questionnaire titled "Influence of Agricultural Education Programme in Revamping Young Farmers Club" which was structured in four-point rating scale of agreement. This instrument was subjected to face validity by two experts in the Department of Agricultural Education in Rivers State University. Thereafter, Cronbach Alpha was used to establish the reliability of the instrument. The reliability coefficient achieved was 0.82. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses. This study found that Agricultural Education Programme could revamp young farmers club through conducting orientation programs for new students on young farmers club, organizing symposium on importance of young farmers club, organizing conferences on young farmers club, organizing seminars on young farmers club and advertorial on young farmers club. Provision of educational support by: conducting practical for members, equipping future farmers susceptible to new ideas and modern practice, extension training on entrepreneurship, providing vital information to boost the interest of potential farmers, extension training on leadership, introducing potential farmers to farmers cooperative, creating and coordinating communication of agricultural potentials, by motivating members through allotment of time for young farmers club meetings, regular visit of agricultural educators to young farmers club meetings, supervision among others. It was recommended that there should be orientation programme for every year one student in the Department of Agricultural Education so that they could be abreast with the benefits of becoming member of young farmers club. If this is done, it will help to increase the number of students in the club.